metronome/pico-cp/README.md
Me Here 7481f91935 PM_K-1 0.0.10: ship precompiled app.mpy (fixes boot OOM) + push .mpy over the air
The single-file app grew to ~57KB; CircuitPython compiling it at boot fragments the
RP2040 heap so badly that the fonts can't get a contiguous block (161KB free, yet a
~16KB alloc fails). Fix: precompile to app.mpy (Adafruit mpy-cross for CP 10.2.1, emits
CircuitPython mpy v6) so the device loads bytecode without compiling -> no fragmentation.

- build.sh precompiles pico-cp/app.py -> dist/app.mpy via tools/mpy-cross (gitignored
  binary); the bundle ships app.mpy (NOT app.py); serves pico-cp-app.mpy + pico-cp-app.py
  (the .py only for the editor's version regex + as readable reference).
- Loader (code.py) imports app.mpy and rolls back app.bak as .mpy.
- One-click updater now pushes the .mpy: editor base64-encodes it and sends it over the
  existing flow-controlled chunked transport (512-char = mult-of-4 chunks); the device
  base64-decodes each chunk to /app.new and verifies the CircuitPython .mpy header
  (magic 'C', v6, >=4KB) before the A/B install. Version still read from the served .py.

Verified: mpy-cross emits magic 'C'/v6; build produces a 21.8KB app.mpy; editing-logic
harness + scene render still pass; and a simulated push (base64 -> 57 chunks -> a2b_base64)
reassembles the .mpy byte-exact and passes the device's header check.

One-time recovery: delete app.py from the drive, copy app.mpy + code.py from the new zip.
After that, updates are one-click again (and can't brick: header check + A/B rollback).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-05-29 14:01:57 -05:00

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# PM_K1 "Kit" — CircuitPython edition (USB drive · push programming · MIDI audio · practice log)
The **CircuitPython** firmware for the 52Pi EP0172 Pico kit, set up as a selfcontained appliance.
It runs the same programstring language as <https://metronome.varasys.io>. The simpler
**MicroPython** firmware (`../pico/main.py`) stays as a rocksolid fallback — and the Pico can't be
bricked (BOOTSEL → drag a MicroPython `.uf2` back).
What it does: drives the 3.5″ touchscreen with a lanes/pads display + antialiased text, plays the
buzzer + RGB beat light, **logs your practice to `/history.json`**, accepts new set lists **pushed
from the web editor over USBMIDI**, and plays through your **computer's speakers** over USBMIDI.
## Two poweron modes (set by `boot.py`)
- **Appliance mode — default (just plug in / power up).** The *firmware* owns the filesystem, so it
saves your practice log and writes set lists the editor pushes over USBMIDI. The drive is then
**readonly to the computer** — which also **protects the firmware from accidental deletion**.
- **Editor mode — hold BUTTON A while plugging in.** The drive is **writable by the computer**, so you
can drag `programs.json` / `code.py` / fonts on from any OS or browser (the universal fallback).
Reset afterwards to return to appliance mode.
## Install
1. **Flash CircuitPython:** hold **BOOTSEL**, plug in, drop the CircuitPython `.uf2` onto `RPIRP2`
(<https://circuitpython.org/board/raspberry_pi_pico/> — Pico 2 / W builds also fine). A `CIRCUITPY`
drive appears.
2. **Copy the whole bundle** onto `CIRCUITPY`: `boot.py`, `code.py` (loader) + **`app.mpy`** (the
application, **precompiled**), `programs.json`, `font_s.bin` / `font_m.bin` / `font_l.bin`,
`logo.bin` / `midi.bin` / `usb.bin` (logo + MIDI/USB status icons), `editor.html` (offline editor),
and the helper scripts. **If an old `app.py` is on the drive, delete it** — the firmware ships as
precompiled `app.mpy`. (Why: CircuitPython compiling the ~57 KB source at boot fragments the heap and
runs the RP2040 out of memory; a `.mpy` loads without compiling. `code.py` is a tiny stable loader; the
one-click updater pushes a new `app.mpy`. The `.bin` assets ride in the bundle — if one is missing the
firmware just falls back to text and never fails to boot.)
3. **Powercycle** (so `boot.py` takes effect). It boots into appliance mode and runs.
## Program it from the web (push over USBMIDI)
In the editor (Chrome / Edge / **Firefox**), build a set list → setlist **⋯** menu → **📟 Save to device**.
The editor sends it to the Pico over USBMIDI (SysEx); the firmware writes `/programs.json`, reloads, and
acknowledges — the editor shows **Saved ✓**. **📥 Load from device** reads it back.
*Universal fallback (any browser / OS, even Safari):* Save to device **downloads** `programs.json` when no
device answers — boot the Pico in **editor mode** (hold A) and drag the file onto the `CIRCUITPY` drive.
## Firmware updates (oneclick, A/B with autorollback)
`code.py` is a small stable **loader**; the application is the precompiled **`app.mpy`** (it carries
`APP_VERSION`). To update: the editor's ⋯ menu → **⬆ Update firmware…** queries the device's version, fetches
the latest `app.mpy` from the site, shows *device vs latest*, and on confirm **pushes it over USBMIDI**
(base64, in flowcontrolled chunks; the device decodes each chunk to disk and verifies the `.mpy` header
before installing). It goes to a **trial slot** (old build kept as `app.bak`) and reboots; if the new build
**doesn't boot, the loader automatically rolls back** to `app.bak`. A build that runs cleanly for ~5 s is
confirmed. No BOOTSEL, no dragging. (Updating CircuitPython *itself* still uses BOOTSEL + a `.uf2`, but that's
rare. And the Pico is unbrickable as the ultimate backstop.)
## Play through the computer's speakers
The Pico is a USBMIDI device and sends a note per click (GM drum note per lane, velocity by accent).
In the editor click **🎹 Device audio**, grant MIDI access, and press play *on the device* — the editor
voices the groove through its full synth, out your speakers, locked to the device's clock. While a host is
listening the screen shows a green **MIDI** badge and the **buzzer automutes** (the computer plays instead).
The editor also syncs the device clock, so the practice log gets real wallclock timestamps.
## Playlists, editing & Continue
- **Built-in playlists** (Styles / Practice / Song) are baked into the firmware — read-only, updated with
firmware. **Your own** playlists live in `programs.json` (synced from the editor's *Save to device*).
- **Switch playlist:** tap the **set-list tab** (above the title; grey = built-in, cyan = yours). **Item:**
joystick left/right.
- **Edit on the device:** **tap a beat** to cycle it (off → normal → accent → ghost). The title turns
**red** (unsaved); **tap the title** to **Save** or **Revert**. Editing a built-in saves a **copy** into
a *My edits* playlist (built-ins never change). Editing your own updates it in place.
- **Continue (auto-advance):** tap **CONT** (top-right of the tab line) — when on, a playlist auto-advances
to the next item at the end of each item's `b<n>` segment (turn it on for the Song playlist).
## Controls & the practice log
- **Joystick:** up/down = tempo, left/right = previous/next groove.
- **Button A (GP15):** play / stop. **Button B (GP14):** tap tempo.
- **Screen:** VARASYS logo + firmware version + MIDI/USB status icons up top. Running time and bar count
show **of the segment total** when the track has a bar length (`b<n>`), e.g. `1:23 of 2:00` and `bar 3
of 16`. A track with a tempo ramp (`rmp`) shows a **ramp arrow + amount/every-bars** (e.g. `+4/2b`); a
gap-trainer track (`tr`) shows a **play|rest symbol + bars** (e.g. `2/2b`). Main beats are **squares**,
subdivisions are **circles**, with vertical gridlines lining the beats up across lanes.
- **RGB LED = run state:** dim **green** when stopped ("on"), dim **red** while playing, with the beat
pulsing brighter on top. (The screen background stays black — recoloring it forces a full-screen repaint.)
- The firmware **performs** ramps (tempo steps every N bars) and gap-trainer cycles (silent rest bars).
- **Touchscreen:** the bottom shows the **practice log for the current track** (time · BPM · duration · bars)
— newest first. Plays under 5 s aren't logged. **Tap a row to arm it (turns amber), tap again to delete.**
- **RGB LED** flashes the beat (amber accent / cyan normal / violet ghost); the **buzzer** clicks to match.
- The log is saved to `/history.json` (next to `programs.json`) in appliance mode and survives powercycles.
## programs.json
```json
{ "title": "PolyMeter",
"programs": [ { "name": "Four on the floor", "prog": "t120;kick:4;snare:4=.x.x;hatClosed:4/2" } ] }
```
Each `prog` is a program string from the editor (tempo, lanes, patterns, `/2` subdivision, `/2s` swing,
`(3,8)` Euclid, `~` polymeter, `@-3` dB). The push above is the easy way to update it.
## Calibration (flags at the top of `code.py`)
- **Red/blue swapped:** flip `MADCTL` between `0x48` (default) and `0x40`.
- **Colours look negative:** toggle `INVERT_COLORS`.
- **Taps land wrong:** set `TOUCH_DEBUG = True`, read the raw coords over USB serial, then set
`TOUCH_SWAP_XY` / `TOUCH_INVERT_X` / `TOUCH_INVERT_Y`.
- **Joystick reversed:** toggle `JOY_INVERT_X` / `JOY_INVERT_Y`.
- **Computer audio:** `MIDI_ENABLED` (default on); `MUTE_BUZZER` forces the buzzer off even standalone.
- **LED too bright/dim:** `LED_BRIGHTNESS` (0..1, default 0.15).
- **Screen tearing:** SPI panels have no tearingeffect sync; `SPI_BAUD` (default 62.5 MHz) is pushed fast
to minimise it — lower only if unstable.
- **Blank / garbled:** the panel lot may differ; drop `SPI_BAUD`, and if it's a 240×320 ILI9341 rather than
the 320×480 ST7796, the init/size need changing (this targets the 320×480 you have).
- **RGB LED** uses the core `neopixel_write` (no library to install).
If `code.py` ever errors, CircuitPython prints the traceback **on the screen and over USB serial** — send
me that. The fonts are the baked antialiased blobs from `../pico/gen_font.py`. `protect-firmware.sh` (hide
the firmware files) is mainly for editor mode — appliance mode already keeps the drive readonly.